State to allow Buckeye Lake water level to rise

Steve Berezansky, chief of projects for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, speaks at a press conference Thursday on Liebs Island about the state's approval for allowing the Buckeye Lake water level to raise two feet.(Photo: Michael Lehmkuhle/The Advocate)

Stop logs, located several feet below the walkway at the Buckeye Lake dam spillway, were installed Thursday morning by ODNR to allow the lake level to raise two feet — one foot below normal.
Michael Lehmkuhle/The Advocate

Steve Berezansky, chief of projects for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, speaks at a press conference Thursday on Liebs Island about the state's approval for allowing the Buckeye Lake water level to raise two feet.
Michael Lehmkuhle/The Advocate

Steve Berezansky, chief of projects for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, speaks at a press conference Thursday on Liebs Island about the state's approval for allowing the Buckeye Lake water level to raise two feet.
Michael Lehmkuhle/The Advocate

A scale at the Buckeye Lake dam spillway indicates water levels are over two feet below previous waterlines. ODNR has adjusted the spillway to allow the water lever to climb another two feet.
Michael Lehmkuhle/The Advocate

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Buckeye Lake Village Council President Kitty Zwissler echoed Craig's sentiments.

"It's been a tough year for everyone on the lake, but seeing water in the lake will help give people hope we can return to a normal life," she said.

Businesses in Buckeye Lake have felt the economic crunch from the dam project already, and with summer just around the corner, many had hopes the state would allow the water level to rise.

Jim Zehringer, ODNR's director, confirmed phase one of the construction was completed a year ahead of schedule.The construction of the 4.1-mile cut-off wall — part of the $110 million dam project — was completed May 6, and officials conducted inspections of it before deciding when to allow the water to rise.

Work will continue on the dam throughout the summer.

Zehringer said the raised water levels will be "an opportunity for Buckeye Lake businesses to return to some normalcy."

State Sen. Jay Hottinger said there would "still be bumps, still be hiccups, still be challenges moving ahead."

The public access to the lake will be maintained with the exception of Liebs Island, which isn't open because of the continuing construction. ODNR has a speed zone map on its website for boats, but towed sports will remain prohibited.

Bethany McCorkle, ODNR spokeswoman, said the prohibition is "out of an abundance of caution since we will be aggressively dredging the lake."

State Rep. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, said the ODNR announcement is "wonderful news for Millersport, Buckeye Lake and the tri-county region."

"I hope the level is enough to get boats on the lake to benefit recreation and the economy for this gem in the Ohio state park system," he said.